System and apparatus fob the control of electric-cib



w. H. HOLLOWAY. SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-7.1916.

Patented J nly 15, 1919.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC-7.19m.

Patented July 15, 1919.

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WILLIAM H. HOLLOWAY, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SYSTEM AIN'D APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT BREAKERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Application filed December'f, 1916. Serial No. 135,597.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, \NIILIAM H. HOLLO- WAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems and Apparatus for the Control of Electric- Circuit Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a system and apparatus for the control of electric circuitbreakers and its primary object is to provide in one or more circuits which are independent of the circuit controlled by a circuitbreaker, apparatus adapted to actuate one circuit-breaker singly or a series of circuit breakers consecutively for their movement to a circuit opening position.

With the above object in view,- my invention comprises a system of electrical devices and circuits by the use of which a circuit breaker may be actuated to open a circuit in which it is connected from one or more distant points, or by means of which circuitbreakers used to control the circuits of a number of motors working in step to drive a succession of machines employed in the operation of certain processes, are successively and automatically actuated to break their respective circuits after one of the circuit-breakers of the series has been operated to open the circuit it controls either by a manual operation or by the action of an electro-mag'netic overload attachment.

Still further objects of my invention reside in providing in connection with a system of the character outlined above, an electric alarm which automatically calls the attention of the operator or operators to a break in one of the motor circuits, and in other arrangements for controlling the operation of one or more circuit-breakers, all of which will be fully disclosed in the course of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1, designates a face view of a circuit-breaker to which my invention is applied,

'Fig. 2, a section taken along the line 22, Fig. 1, and

Figs. 3, 4c, 5 and 6 different systems of electric circuits in which the elements of my invention are included for obtaining the results outlined above and hereinafter to be more specifically described.

Referring to the drawings by numeral reference characters which in the several views designate corresponding parts, my invention has been shown as applied to circuit-breakers 50 of conventional construction such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 in which a stationary contact-member 2 and a movable contact member 3 are connected in opposite sides of the electric circuit controlled by acircuit-breaker of which they form part.

The movable contact member is pivoted as at 4 for movement to and from the stationary member, a toggle movement 5 operates to move the contact member 3 into engagement with its correlative against the action of a: spring 6 which tends to separate the members, and a latch 7 looks the moving contact-member in its adjusted position by connection with a part of the toggle.

In the construction shown in the drawings, twounits each constructed as hereinbefore described, are provided to control opposite sides of one circuit and an automatic device is placed in operative adja cency to said units for their simultaneous actuationby an overload of the circuit in which they are connected.

The overload circuit breaking device consists of an electro-magnetic coil 8 connected in the circuit of the two circuit breakers, and an armature 9 which when attracted to the core of the coil by its magnetization in case of an overload, engages the latches 7 of the circuit breakers and thereby releases the toggles 5 to separate the movable contact members 3 from the respective stationary members 2 by action of the springs 6.

The circuit-breakers herein shown and described are merely illustrative of the class of electrical devices to which my invention may be effectually applied either separately or in conjunction with an overload attachment of suitable construction.

My invention includes two mechanical elements which cooperate for the actuation of one circuit breaker by the movement of another to a position in which the circuit it controls is opened.

One of these elements, designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, con sists of a solenoid 12- and a fulcrumed lever 13 which rests upon the upper end of the longitudinally moving solenoid core 14 to be lifted by action thereof when the windings of the coil in which the core has its movement, are energized.

.head from the contacts 19 against the action The lever 13 is positioned to actuatively engage the latch 7 of one of the circuit breakers and thereby release the toggle of the same and cause the movable contact member to be separated from the stationary member by the action of the spring 6.

When the element 10 is applied to a circuit-breaker associated with an overload actuating device, the free end of the lever is placed between the latch and the part of the armature of the overload coil, adapted to engage the same, so that the two actuating devices may work conjointly or independently without interfering with each other.

The other mechanical element of my invention which in its entirety has been designated by the reference character 15, comprises a circuit-breaker which is composed of a plunger 16 loosely extending through a sleeve 17 of nonconducting ma terial and carrying a head 18 which normally engages two resilient contacts 19 secured at an end of the sleeve. 4

A spring 20 disposed within the sleeve, is provided to move the plunger to the position in which its head engages the contacts to close a circuit in which said contacts are connected.

The circuit-breaking element 15 of my invention is disposed with relation'to a circuit breaker of the hereinbefore described construction so that the movable contactmember thereof when placed in engagement with th stationary contact member pushes the plunger 16 outwardly to separate its of the spring 20.

Having thus described the construction of the mechanical elements of my invention I will now proceed to describe the electric'circuits with which they are associated in a system to perform the functions hereinbefore referred to.

The system illustrated in Fig. 3 is designed to effect the actuation of any one of a series of circuit-breakers from one or more distant points, and the subsequent automatic actuation of all or a part of the remaining circuit breakers of the series.

This system is particularly adapted for use in a plant in which a process is carried on by the cooperative actions of a succession of electrically operated units.

In a plant of this type in which each unit performs a distinctive step in the process and the material to be worked is automatically fed from one unit to another, it is obviously essential that if the operation of a series of circuit breakers A, B, C, D and E, are connected in a controlling clrcuit which is manually closed and opened by switches of the push-button type.

The controlling circuit includes in connection with a source of electricity 21, two line conductors 22 and 23 connected by a plurality of cross-wires 24: by which the solenoid coils 12 are connected in multiple in the circuit and which are individually controlled by the before-mentioned switches which in the drawing are designated by the numerals 25.

An electric alarm provided to call attention to a break in any one of the circuits controlled by the circuit breakers is dis posed in a separate electric circuit which comprises in connection with a source of electricity 26, two conductors 27 and 28 between which the alarm 29 is connected.

A break in the conductor 28 is bridged by a lever 30 connected with the armature of the solenoid 31 which by means of conductors 32 and 33 is connected at opposite sides of a break in the line conductor 22 of the controlling circuit.

The circuit-breaking elements 15 applied to the series of circuit-breakers are disposed in multiple in a secondary circuit whichin connection with a separate battery 34: includes a line-wire 35, the before-mentioned line-conductor 22 of the controlling circuit and conductors 36 which are connected between these two line conductors.

The several conductors 136 each include one of the circuit-breaking elements of my invention and the solenoid of the actuating element associated with the circuit breaker of the series, neXt following that to which the circuit-breaking element is applied.

The circuits so far described are adapted to cause the automatic actuation of the circuit-breakers of the series following that which is actuated by closing the circuitbreaker through the medium of the respective switches 25, and if it is desired to actuate every circuit breaker of the series by the opening movement of one, a cross wire in which the circuit breaking element 15 associated with the last circuit-breaker E of the series is connected, includes thesolenoid coil 12 of the actuating element associated with the first circuit-breaker Aof the series.

In the operation of the system any one of the circuit-breakers may be separately actuated to break the circuit it controls by closing the controlling circuit by means-of the respective switch 25.

The energization of the solenoid coil causes the lever 13 to be moved in engagement with the latch 7 of the respective circuit breaker which in consequence releases the toggle of the same and causes the spring 6 to return the moving contact-member 3 to the position in which it -is separated from the stationary contact-member 2.

The movement ofthe contact-memberB releasesthe plunger 16 of the circuit-breaking element 15 applied-to'the same circuitbreaker of'the series, with the result that its head 18 is moved into engagementwith the contacts 19 and closes thesecondarycircuit'through the cross-wire36 in which asolenoid coil 12 0f the'actuating element aplowing circuit-breaker-is connected and inthis manner all the circuit-breakers of the series following that initially opened will be actuated in succession to open the circuits which they control.

When" the last circuit-breaker of the series is provided with a circuit-breaking element 15 connected in series with the solenoid coil 12 of the actuating element of the first'circuit-breaker of the series, the successive actuation of the circuit-breakers is continued until every circuit-breaker of the series is placed in an open position.

Premising for example, that the switch 25 corresponding with the solenoid coil 12 of the third circuit-breaker C of the series is operated, a circuit is completed which beginning at the source of'electricity 21 includes the line-conductor 23, the cross-wire 24 in which the solenoid-coil '12 of the element associated with the circuit-breaker C is included, and the line-wire 22 which connects with the opposite pole of the battery.

The closing of the controlling circuit as outlined, also energizes the solenoid 31 of the circuit-breaker which controls the alarm circuit and causes the armature of the solenoid to close the circuit and thereby produce a flow of current from the battery 26 through the wire 27 the alarm 29 and the wire 28 which connects with the opposite ergization of the solenoid coil of the respective actuatingelement, compels the circuitbreaking element of the same circuit-breaker, to close a circuit in which the solenoid of the actuating element of the next following circuit-breaker is connected, the path of the current through said circuit extendin from the source of electricity 34 through t e line conductor 35, the conductor 36 controlled by the circuit-breaking element associated with the circuit-breaker C and in which the solenoid coil of the next following circuitbreaker D is included, and the line conductor 22 which connects with the opposite pole of the source of electricity;

When the last circuit-breaker E of the series has been opened in this manner, the actuation of the respective circuit breaking element 15 closes a circuit including the solenoid coil 12 of the actuating element connected with the first circuit-breaker A of the series as follows: beginning at the battery 34'the line wire 35, the conductor 36 controlledby the circuit breakin element of the circuit breaker E and including the coil 12 of the actuating element connected with the circuit breaker A and the line-wire 22 which connects with the opposite pole of the battery.

It will be understood that by providing a line-wire common to the primary circuit controlled by the switches 25 and the subordinate circuit controlled by the circuitbreaking elements 15, the solenoid-coils 12 are opera-tively placed in bothcircuits, and that the use of two separate batteries is essential to provide the current flow required for the actuation of all the electrical devices included in the system.

It will furthermore be observed that any number of switches 25 may be arranged in multiple in the cross wires of the primary circuit and that in consequence the circuits controlled by thecircuit-breakers may be opened at any one of an unlimited number of distant points.

In the system illustrated in Fig. 4 my invention has been applied to automatic circuit-breakers of a series of cooperative electrical devices comprised in a plant. In this system the primary circuit included in the other system is eliminated and the only circuit utilized is that which in the first-described system was subordinate to the other.

When the current in the circuit controlled by one of the circuit-breakers attains too high a value, the energization of the respective overload coil 8 causes the circuit to be opened by a movement of the movable contact-members of the circuit-breakers after the toggles of the same have been released by the engagement of the armature of the overload solenoid with the latches 7 The circuit-breaking element 15 associated with the opened circuit-breaker is in consequence moved to its circuit-closing position as before, and the solenoid 12 of the actuating element of the next following circuitbreaker which is in series with the closed circuit-breaking element is energized to open the respective circuit-breaker by the engagement of the lever '13 with the latch which holds the toggle of one of its movable contact members.

The opening of the last-mentioned circuit-breaker energizes the solenoid-coil of the actuating element of the neXt following circuit-breaker, and the entire number of circuit-breakers following that which was initially opened, are thus successively actuated to interrupt the circuits they respectively control.

If it is desired to open every circuitbreaker of the series by the actuation of one through the medium of its overload solenoid, the circuitbreaking element 15 of the last circuit-breaker of the series is, as in the firstdescribed system, connected in series with the solenoid coil 12 of the actuating element of the first circuit-breaker of the series, by means of the conductor 36.

Inasmuch as the path of the current in the system shown in Fig. 4 is identical to that f the system illustrated in Fig. 3, no further description of the circuits is necessary.

My improved system and apparatus may be utilized to advantage to control a single circuit breaker from one or more distantpoints as is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings in which one or more switches 25 are connected in multiple in a circuit which in connection with a battery 37 includes two line conductors 38 and 39 in one of which the solenoid coil 12 of the actuating element 10 is connected. 7

The automatic circuit-breaking element 15 may in this case be eliminated or it may be used to close an alarn'i-circuit similar to that shown in Fig. 3, and cause the continuous sounding of the alarm while the circuitbreaker is in the circuit-opening condition.

By operating one of the switches 25, a circuit iscompleted as follows: commencing at'the battery 37 the line conductor 39, the cross-wires closed by the switch 25 and the line-conductor 38 in which the solenoid coil 12 of the element 10 is included and which connects with the opposite pole of the battery.

In case the alarm circuit is utilized in the abovementioned manner, the automatic circuit-breaking -element actuated by move ment of the movable contact member of the circuit breaker, closes a shunt 40 of the solenoid circuit which includes the coil of the solenoid 31 which closes the alarm-circuit.

In the system illustrated in Fig. 6, my invention has been applied to control the opening-movement of either one of two circuitbreakers by a similar movement of the other.

The primary circuit in this system in-' individually controlled by theswitches 25 and in which the solenoid-coils 12 of the actuating elements are included.

The secondary circuit includes as before, in connection with the battery 34, the line conductor 22 of the controlling circuit, a second line-conductor 35 and wires 36 by which the automatic circuit-breaking element associated with each circuit-breaker is connected in a series with the solenoid of the actuating element of the. other circuit-breaker.

If the circuit-breaker at the left-hand side of the. drawing is closed byienergization oi the respective actuating element when the controlling circuit has been closed by means of the respective switch 25 and the correspondlng automatic circuit-breaking element is'at the same time actuated to close the circuit it controls, the solenoid coil of the actuating element of the other circuit-breaker is energized by a flow of current along a path which commencing at the battery 34 includes the conductor 35, the conductor 36 in which the circuit-breaking element 15 of the first circuit-breaker is connected, the coil 12 of the actuating element associated with the second circuit-breaker, and the conductor 22 which connects with the opposite pole of the battery and is common to both circuits.

WVhen the circuit of the actuating element associated with the circuit-breaker at the right-hand side of the drawing is closed by means of its switch 25, said circuit breaker is moved to its circuit-opening position by the lever of the actuating element, the corresponding automatic circuit-breaking element is operated to close the circuit in which it is included and the solenoid of the actuating element connected with the other circuit-breaker is energized by a flow of current along a path which beginning at the battery 34 includes the before-mentioned conductor 35, the conductor 36 including the circuit-breaking element connected with the initially actuated circuit-breaker, the coil 12 of the actuating element of the other circuitbreaker, and the wire 22 which connects with the other pole of the battery.

Fig. 6 also illustrates themethod of opening by means of my invention, both sides of the circuit simultaneously by the synchronous actuation of the movable contactmembers of a duplex circuit-breaker of the construction shown in Fig. 1, through the intermediary of two actuating elements connected in series in the same line wire and installed in operative relation to the two units of the circuit-breaker.

.It will be observed that in each system for the operation of one or more circuitbreakers of a seriesby the initial actuation of any one circuit-breaker of the same series either by means of a manually closed switch or through'the medium of an overload coil, there are employed in connection with each circuit-breaker, with the possible exception of the first and last one of the series, two cooperative elements, to wit, an actuating element which automatically opens the circuit-breaker and a circuit-' breaker of a series includes all the other circuit-breakers of the same. I

It will be understood by those versed in the art to which my invention. appertains that the systems as hereinbefore described, may be installed and operated at a very low cost, principally by reason of the fact that the entire system operates independently of the circuits controlled by the circuit breakers and thus permits of the use of a current of very low voltage.

In the use of the systems including the 1 primary or controlling circuits, any number of switches may be employed to control the operation of the circuit-breakers of a series from an unlimited number of different points and by using in connection with the system, an alarm circuit as shown in the drawings, the operators of a plant are immediately informed of any interruption in the operation of the series of units which cooperate in the process in which the plant is used.

Inasmuch as the system of electrical connections included in the invention is com pletely insulated from the circuits of the circuit-breakers to which the system is ap plied, all danger of short circuiting is eliminated while the low voltage of the circuits in the system, renders its installation safe in all places and under all conditions.

It will furthermore be understood that while the systems shown in the drawings of the electrical connections may be reversed to open the circuit breakers of the series preceding that initially opened.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

. 1. The combination with a circuit-breaker including a moving contact-member, a latch for holding said member in its circuitclosing position, and an electro-magnetic appliance adapted to actuate said latch by an overload of current in the circuit controlled by the circuit-breaker, of a circuit independentof that controlled by the circuit-breaker, a solenoid connected in said circuit, a switch in the same, and a lever mounted with relation to the latch and the moving parts of the solenoid and the overload appliance to be moved into impellent engagement with said latch by either the en'ergization of the solenoid or the operation of said appliance.

2. In combination, two circuit-breakers, two normally open circuits separate from those controlled by said circuit-breakers, electro-magnetic actuating-elements connected in both' said circuits and adapted to respectively effect anopening-movement of said'circuit-breakers, means for closing either circuit, and circuit-breaking elements adapted to be held in a circuit-opening position' by the circuit-breakers in their circuit-closing position and to move to a circuit-closing position when the respective circuit-breakers move to their circuit-opening position, the circuit-breaking element of each circuit-breaker being connected in one of said circuits in series with the actuating element of the other circuit-breaker.

3. In combination, a succession of circuitbreakers, circuits separate from those controlled by said circuit-breakers, cooperative actuative and actuated elements in said circuits to effect an opening-movement of any one of said circuit-breakers and to effect an opening-movement of any circuit-breaker by the opening-movement of the immediately preceding one, and switches connected in one of said circuits so as to actuate any actuative element separate from the others.

4. In combination, a succession of circuitbreakers, a circuit separate from those controlled by said circuit-breakers, cooperative elements in said circuit, to effect an opening movement of any circuit-breaker by the opening movement of the immediately preceding one, and means to initially effect an opening movement of any one of said circuit-breakers.

5. In combination, a succession of circuitbreakers, a circuit separate from those controlled by said circuit-breakers, cooperative elements in said circuit, to effect an opening movement of any circuit-breaker by the opening movement of the immediately preceding one, and'means to initially effect an opening movement of one of said circuitbreakers.

6. In combination, a succession of circuitbreakers, means associated therewith for eflecting their opening movement by an overload of current in the circuits they control, a circuit separate from those conthe same, a circuit, switches in said'circuit respectlvely 1n series with said trips, a second circuit, and normally open circuit-controlling devices associated with said circuit-breakers to be separately controlled by the m0vement, thereof and. each connected in fsiai d second circuit in series with the trip of the circuit breaker immediately succeeding that with hich'it is associated.

In combination With a'sei'iiesof circ11 'it-'- breakers, a corresponding series of electromagnetic trips adaptedto separately open thesam'e, a: circuit,sivitchs'in said circuit vrre p tively in series with ,Said trqips, a second circuit, and normally open clrcuit-controlling devices held in-a circuit-opening position by the circuit-breakers in" their circuit-closing position and adapted to move to a-circuit-closing position by the movement of the respective circuit-breakers to a circuitopening position, said devices being connected in said second circuit each in series Withthe trip of thegcircuit breaker imme diately succeeding that With which it is associated.

v,9. In combination with a series of circuitbreakers, a corresponding series of electromagnetic trips adapted to separately open the same, a clrcuit for said trips, a second circuit, and normally open circuitcontrol-- ling devices associated With said circuitbreakers to be separately controlled by the movement thereof and each connected in Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five eents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. Q. I 

